Wire-stretcher



(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 1.

G. A. DEAN.

WIRE STRETGHER. N0..4'74,224. Patented May 3, 1892.

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WIRE STRBTGHER.

No. 474,224. i Patented May 3, 1,892.

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE;

GEORGE A. DEAN, OF RANGER, TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 474,224, dated May 3, 1892.

Application tiled September 22,1891. Serial No. 406,503. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may con/067%:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ranger, in the county of Eastland and State of Texas, havel invented a new and useful lVire- Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fences, and more especially to the wire-stretchers adapted to be used in connection therewith; and thcobject of the same is to produce an improved device of this character.

To this end the invention consistsin a wirestretcher constructed substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the two sheets of drawings, wherein- Figure lis a general perspective View of this wire-stretcher, its grapple, and its anchor. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the Inanner of using the device and of embedding the anchor in the earth. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing` the manner of using the device for connecting a broken wire, a second grapple being substituted for the anchor in this case. Fig. 4 is an outer end elevation of the stretcher, the winding-rope being omitted.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter S designates the stretcherframe, W the windlass therein, L the'supports or legs thereof, R the rope, G the grapple, and A the anchor, these parts being of the following construction:

The stretcher has a Y-shaped body whose end is turned down and pointed, and near this end a clevis 3 is pivoted to the body and preferably carries a snatch-link 4. Its two arms 5 are separated horizontally and turn down slightly at their extremities, as at 6. The windlass-shaft lO is journaled between the arms 5 and has a ratchet-wheel l1 near one end.

l2 is a lever whose lower end is bifurcated and journaled on the shaft 10 astride the ratchet-wheel, and in the bifurcation is pivoted a pawl 13, which engages the teeth of the wheel, a retaining-pawl 14 being pivoted to the adjacent arm 5 and holding the wheel against a retrograde movement.

The stretcher is supported by a pair of legs 20, which are respectively pivoted to the downturned ends G of the arms, and whose lower ends are pointed, as at 2l, and diagonalbraces 22 preferably connect these legs to hold them rigid. The rope R is secured to the shaft l0, on which it is wound in the usual manner, and preferably carries a hook 25 at its outer end.

Each grapple comprises a pair of .arms 30, having eyes 3l at their inner ends, wherein are engaged links 32, which converge and connect with a hook or ring 33, adapted to be engaged with the hook 25 or with the snatchlink 1L. Near their other ends these arms are flattened and pivoted, as at 3l, and their extremities are turned over into lips 35, as best seen in Fig. l, whereby they are adapted to grasp a plain or barbed fence-wire in a manner which-will be obvious and hold it against slipping, the tension on the links 32 increasing the bite of the lips.

The anchor comprises a straight shank 40, bent into a hook 4l at one end and at its other end bent at right angles, as at 42, forming a pounding-face 43, and then bent close upon itself, passing across the end of the body, and formed into a long curved blade 44C, having a sharpened and flattened extremity 45.

All parts of this device are preferably of metal, usualiy iron, cast-iron being employed where convenient, but wrought-iron being preferable, and the whole may be painted or japanned to prevent it from rusting.

In use the rope R is wound on the windlass WV at one end and a grapple G connected to its other end, the wire to be stretched beingV engaged between the lips of said grapple. The stretcher S is then placed in position and the support Lset at the proper angle to bring the windlass IV on a line with the wire to be stretched, the pointed feet of the support and inner end of the body of the stretcher being embeddedin the earth. The anchorA is connected with the snatch-link and is embedded in the earth at the proper point by driving its blade thereinto by pounding on the pounding face, or if the stretching occur in a line of fencing the anchor may be hooked around a post near the earth. The lever of the windlass is then reciprocated, whereby the rope is slowly wound on the shaft and the wire is given the proper tension, after which it is stapled or otherwise fastened to the post, the next length of wire tightened in the same ICO manner With another stretcher, and this stretcher then disengaged from the wire and moved around the other to stretch the third length. In Fig. 3 I have shown the device as it is used for connecting a broken wire. In this case a second grapple G is substituted for the anchor, the ends of the wire drawn as nearly together as possible, the two grapples engaged on the Wire some distance beyond their ends, the Windlass operated to tighten and then to stretch the Wires until the ends lap, the latter connected by twisting or otherwise, and the stretcher then removed.

I do not limit myself to the exact details ot construction, as considerable change may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What is claimed as new isl. The herein-described wire-stretcher, the same comprising a Y-shaped body, an anchor detachahly connected to the inner end thereot', awindlassjournaled across and Within its outer forked end, a rope on said Windlass, a grapple detach ablyconnected to said rope, and a support pivotally connected to said body, each and all substantially as set forth.

2. In a Wire-stretcher, the combination, with a Y-shaped body Whose single end is sharpened and a Windlass journaled in its forked end, of a support comprising two legs having sharpened lower ends and having their upper ends pivoted to said arms near the extremlties of the latter, and braces connecting said legs, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a Wire-stretcher, the combination, with the stretcher-body having a downward-turned as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. DEAN.

Witnesses:

H. K.v MARTIN, J. F. HARIBON. 

